What is QED Theory and How Does It Explain Electric Charge Interactions?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Quarlep
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Qed Theory
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around quantum electrodynamics (QED) theory, particularly its explanations of electric charge interactions, including the nature of charge, the behavior of like and unlike charges, and the underlying principles such as gauge symmetry. Participants explore both conceptual and technical aspects of QED.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants seek a basic understanding of QED and its implications for electric charge interactions.
  • One participant explains that QED describes electromagnetic interactions from a quantum field theory perspective but suggests that more specific questions would yield better answers.
  • Another participant asserts that QED can explain the attraction and repulsion between charges but does not clarify why particles have their specific charges.
  • It is noted that while QED can explain the behavior of charges, the values of those charges are taken conventionally, with freedom in gauge transformations affecting the charge assignments.
  • Participants mention that gauge symmetry is a fundamental aspect of QED, which is necessary to preserve local gauge symmetry.
  • One participant provides a link to a resource that offers a simple explanation of gauge symmetry and its implications for electric potential.
  • Another participant references John Baez's blog for a simplified explanation of charge interactions, indicating that there are external resources that may clarify these concepts further.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that QED can explain the interactions between charges but express differing views on whether it adequately addresses the origins of charge values. The discussion reflects multiple competing views regarding the completeness of QED in explaining charge phenomena.

Contextual Notes

Some limitations are noted regarding the explanation of why particles have specific charges, with participants acknowledging that this aspect remains unresolved within the framework of QED.

Quarlep
Messages
257
Reaction score
4
I looked QED theory but I don't understand anything can someone explain me What is a QED theory ?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Your question is very general- you should specify it more to get a more specific answer...however I'd reply that QED is quantum electrodynamics. It's the theory which describes the electromagnetic interactions of matter from a quantum field theory point of view. What else do you want to know?
 
Can it explain what's charge or why same chargea are repel and different charges are attraced
 
Quarlep said:
Can it explain what's charge or why same chargea are repel and different charges are attraced

Yes.

A deep analysis shows its basis is what called gauge symmetry, without going into the details of what that is.

Thanks
Bill
 
From what I've seen so far it doesn't explain why particles have the charges they do...but the charges are taken conventionally as such (you have the freedom to choose whichever gauge transformation of U[1] gauge group e^{i \lambda Q} and the charges you'll have for your matter field will be \lambda Q )... However there are constraints on the all particle charges to avoid some gauge anomalies.
But yes, it can explain the repulsion and attraction between same and opposite charges, as well as give you the Coulomb potential in the low-energy limit.
 
ChrisVer said:
From what I've seen so far it doesn't explain why particles have the charges they do...but the charges are taken conventionally as such (you have the freedom to choose whichever gauge transformation of U[1] gauge group e^{i \lambda Q} and the charges you'll have for your matter field will be \lambda Q )... However there are constraints on the all particle charges to avoid some gauge anomalies.
But yes, it can explain the repulsion and attraction between same and opposite charges, as well as give you the Coulomb potential in the low-energy limit.

That's true. It doesn't explain why particles have the charges they do - but it does explain why in general charge exists.

Its required to preserve local gauge symmetry:
http://quantummechanics.ucsd.edu/ph130a/130_notes/node296.html

Thanks
Bill
 
Nice simple explanation of gauge symmetry here:

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1999/press.html

An electric field E can be expressed as a potential V. The very simplest transformation of V is to add a constant to it. But V can be calculated from any zero point, since only differences in potential are of significance. That the zero point can be moved in this way is perceived as a symmetry in the theory, gauge symmetry...
 
Thank you very much
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
4K
  • · Replies 134 ·
5
Replies
134
Views
12K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
3K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 49 ·
2
Replies
49
Views
5K